9 March 2011

Note: the deadline for submitting comments was 14 April 2011.

We would like your views on the development of our three priorities.

The ESRC’s Strategic Plan 2009-2014 identifies an ambitious agenda for the social sciences, set out in the format of seven cross-cutting challenges that are of an enduring nature. Following the publication of our new Delivery Plan 2011-2015 we have sharpened our focus with the introduction of three priorities:

• Economic Performance and Sustainable Growth
• Influencing Behaviour and Informing Interventions
• A Vibrant and Fair Society

These are rooted within the existing seven challenges, and therefore reflect the longer-term issues for social sciences as a whole that were identified through a process of consultation in 2008.

The three priorities will provide a focus for maximising the impact from our existing portfolio of research, resources and training investments, realigning the activity of investments working in relevant areas and directing a proportion of our budget towards new activities. However, we also remain committed to supporting the best ideas generated by the research community through our responsive-mode funding opportunities, which are not directed.

We have set up three Task Forces to identify important issues under each priority. The framework was agreed by the February 2011 meeting of the ESRC Council and the next stage is to further refine these issues. The priorities will be revisited annually to review our work and to allow us to respond to other important issues as they arise.

We would welcome your views on refining these priority areas; the final deadline for comments is 14 April 2011 but responses before the end of March would be much appreciated.